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Two Democratic senators are asking baseball commissioner Bud Selig to ban all tobacco use in the sport, specifically citing smokeless products.
Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey are suggesting that Selig push for a ban as part of the negotiations in the players' collective bargaining agreement later this year.
Major League Baseball banned tobacco use in its minor leagues in 1993, but still allows it in the big leagues. The senators say Major League Baseball "is undoubtedly complicit" in the increase its use with school-aged boys.
In a letter to Selig, Durbin and Lautenberg wrote, "We now know conclusively that smokeless tobacco endangers the health of baseball players who use it, but it also affects millions of young people who watch baseball."
"The use of smokeless tobacco by baseball players undermines the positive image of the sport and sends a dangerous message to young fans, who may be influenced by the players they look up to as role models," they wrote
The senators say they were motivated to write the letter because of an recent newspaper article written by Washington Nationals pitcher Steven Strasburg. The pitcher said his initial use chewing tobacco stemmed from a desire to emulate pro baseball players.
Referencing a National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the senators say the use of smokeless tobacco products has increased 36% among high school boys since 2003, raising its use among all boys to 15%.
"While tobacco companies spend millions on ads tailored to attract young people to use tobacco products, MLB is undoubtedly complicit in attracting many young people to try smokeless tobacco after seeing their baseball heroes chew tobacco," they wrote.
The senators sent an identical letter to Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner.
Leave a Comment:
Wow! Congress tackling another pressing issue! Washington needs an ice water enema, these two idiots in particular could use one.
This country has a list of serious problems and tobacco in MLB is not one of them. Yes tobacco give cancer. For the millionth time we get it!
These players are grown adults. And the last time I checked chewing tobacco was legal. What right does government have to stop these grown men from taking part in a legal activity?
It is a parents job to stop their child from copying the behavior of pro athletes not the governments.
I'm sure that if the republican house majority leader had brought this issue up, most of the people who posted on here would agree with him.
Don't showcase your ignorance. It is unbecoming of you.
awww, shall I call a WHAAAAA-mbulance for you???
What the hell do they think, banning smokeless creates jobs? Man oh man with a congress like this who needs laws. It's unbelievable the waste of time they get paid for in Washington. They make fools of themselves. I know why this country is so screwed up. Over half of them are not suited for the seriousness of the job. This is total BS. If a ship was sinking do you suppose they would throw out the anchor? I do. Are they after some astonishing accomplishment out to prove to voters how many bills they passed or laws? Is there some big dark secret to this bill or are we all missing the Big Picture. Does this bill have to do with Medicare or some knew secret Dental program we don't know about. Is chewing gum next? Does this law have something to do with spitting or using spit balls?
Stop re-electing these tools.
According to several athletes, they are not role models. We as parents should take them at their word. They are not role models, unless you want your kids to be spoiled little arrogant brats.
Government....STAY OUT OF IT! If you want to curb smoking then stick to your PSA's An employer CANNOT legally compel its employee to not use tobacco products nor should the gov't compel any business or entity to mandate things like that for it's employees!
Senator, if you were in my district i would make sure to vote you out next election! You are wasting your constituants time and money pursuing frivolous ideals that aren't even legal.
David did you have a brother named Ricky?
Whereas I detest the practice, it is neither illegal nor does not offer any danger from "second hand spit". I suggest that Durbin and Lautenberg go back to thier own legislative body and clean up the sleaze on BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE and leave MLB alone. That is a project the American people could get behind and would be far more helpful to the health of this Nation than concerning themselves with chewing tobacco.
Tabaco is not good for anyone!! We should want the best for everyone!! Adults as well as the kids. We need to take care of us, no one else will.
It is OK to want the best for people however it is a totally different thing to force people to do what's "best"
I am so TIRED of "BIG BROTHER" thinking they know what is best for rest of the country!!! I hope these two Dumb A$$es get voted out. Run the country, not every little thing about it. Try this, "FIX SOCIAL SECURITY" "FIX THE DEBIT" "FIX THE LAW BREAKERS IN THE SENATE" ect. DO YOUR DANG JOB!!!!!!! Or hopefully get VOTED THE HE** OUT, BOTH OF YOU ARE "P.O.S."
well, I would like these Senators to give up at least 10% of their wages, get their hours reduced and their lifetime retirement and benefits not only to themselves, but also to their families, rescinded; but will that ever happen? NO. There are so many Americans who allow these senators and congressmen to blow smoke up their rear ends... Politicians need to stay out of baseball, football, professional sports in general. If someone doesn't want their child to mimic professional baseball players chewing tobacco, BE A PARENT AND TEACH YOUR KIDS IT IS A BAD HABIT AND UNHEALTHY FOR THEM! Maybe that's the problem these days; not very many parents want to be responsible and just leave it to the educators and government to set boundaries for their children. These Senators need to get off their soapboxes and focus on the nations budget/economy and find a solution, not be a part of the PROBLEM!
I cannot believe these two idiots. If they would just shut up and attempt to do their job for the American people, but that is something that they are incapable of doing. HOW ABOUT THE BOOZE, DRUGS, WHORES IN DC, NY, ETC.? If we do not get rid of these lifers in the government, you can kiss America goodbye. obama needs to be impeached, and the congressman/senators need to stop worrying about keeping their jobs and keep on screwing over us. Let them go into the private sector, and see who would hire these clowns. Every morning is an adventure - what are the fools in DC going to mess up today and how much is it going to cost the American people. At 72, and a Disabled Veteran, it really gets me upset and makes me wonder how did we let these fools do us like they are doing and we do nothing about stopping them. Damn it, this is AMERICA and those losers in there work for us. It is high time we start firing and replacing with good God fearing men and women. Throw these old out of touch and crooked bums out and let them start making a living. If I was a CEO of a company, they would have to start drawing unemployment because they would not be qualified to work for honest people. Thanks.
Durbin and Lautenberg, I rest my case. Will they want to ban spitting in your glove and grabbing your crotch next?
How about banning beer sales at sports events? I for one don't like it and it should be banned. How does that make you feel? Our freedom of choice on individual rights are slowly being taken away. Consuming alcohol is also bad for your health. Who on this planet was made GOD to decide between what is good and what is bad?
Obviously it was the libs.
One or two beers are not harmful. One cigarette or one mouthful of that smokeless crap definitely is. Besides...baseball players don't drink beer in the dugout either.
Not necessarily, Joe Mont. I'm a democrat. But I think it's unfair to tell me or any other American what I can or cannot eat, chew, drink or smoke for that matter. Here in NY we have a republican city mayor that wants to tax soda and flavored water....because HE thinks it's unhealthy. He's also banned smoking in city parks. He's a tyrant; he's controlling what those people in the city can eat, drink or smoke. So, it's not the Libs. It's the controlling egotists, Senators and Mayors, who feel that they can dictate what we can and can't do. Freedom of choice is slowly slipping away. It's not a liberal or conservative issue. Personally, I think we should tax Golf games that are business related and good wine so that the hogs that play will have to pay their fair share. But, just like taking beer away at games will never happen, you'll never see a sky box without a sexy waitress holding a martini glass.
Like the Republinazi NEVER, ever tell **we the people** what we can or can not do.
Grow a brain.
Both parties SUCK and you stupid sheeple keep hiring them for the job.
What a waste of taxpayer money. Really Senators? This is what you're worried about?
Mouth, tongue, and throat cancer are very serious concerns. The baseball players should grow up and stop representing "smokeless" tobacco use as accepted and normal behavior. Kids idolize them and "ape" their behavior down to the way they knock the dirt off their cleats and the precise ways they warm up in the on-deck circle. Hell..Tiger Woods was fined and criticized for merely spitting at a golf tournament. That was maybe a little over the top but it shows how seriously one sport governs athletes' behavior versus the other one.
Lautenberg does nothing for the state of NJ except tax the hell out of us. Leave MLB alone and let the people accept responsibilty for thei own actions. He's a typical Democrat putting his nose in something that doesn't concern him and doing nothing for his state.
mlb should pass a no spitting on the field rule like the golfers have.
Really bob-3014467, I know You have to be joking???????????
...But Alcohol is A OK kiddies!!!
how often is baseball on tv......
ok now how often is the tv filled with a whole mess of vulgar jokes, violence and everything else you can think of and no one says a damn thing.
I seem to have seen more stories about adolecents with guns or other ridiculous things....
bigger stuff to worry about.
How is this any business of our senators? Stick to the stuff you no nothing about like balancing the budget.
Parents are the way to stop kids from tabacco use!
These Democrats, (particularly these two dimwits) that are introducing this, should concentrate on more important issues rather than worrying about MLB tobacco usage and stomping on more personal freedoms. They need to start doing what they are paid to do and I don't believe that banning smokes in MLB is a hot topic for what needs to be addressed in this country. Stop wasting our tax dollars!
The FEDZ waste your tax dollars by giving millions in subsidies to the tobacco industry every year.
Wake up. America is a game and YOU lose.
Doesn't sound very Liberal to me Boys and Girls.
I don't know many kids who list a sports person as a 'role model' or 'hero', they usually like movie stars or rock stars.
Thank God kids don't idolize anyone in Government, they'd end up even dumber than they are.
Before the stinkin' Federal Gov'ment tells MLB what to do with tobacco products....Congress should cut all tax breaks and gov'ment subsidies given to the tobacco industry and cigarette companies.
It is very hypocritical for the socialist Federal gov'ment.....and its been socialist for over 100 years now...to place special sales taxes on tobacco products while the same gov'ment provides corporate *welfare* to the entire tobacco industry. Stupid American Gov'ment at its best.